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AP Exam Terms/Devices Flashcards

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6598508659allegorystory or poem that reveals a deeper meaning. A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstraction.0
6598508660alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
6598508661allusionindirect of passing reference2
6598508662anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
6598508663antagonista hostile person who is opposed to the main character4
6598508664apostrophefigure of speech used to adress an imaginary character or something not normally spoken to.5
6598508665approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
6598508666asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
6598508667assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
6598508669cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds9
6598508670caesurapause in the middle of a line10
6598508671catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)11
6598508672flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic12
6598508673round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person13
6598508674dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict14
6598508675static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality15
6598508677climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point16
6598508679conflictstruggle between opposing forces17
6598508680connotationsecondary meaning to a word18
6598508681consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together19
6598508682couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse20
6598508683denotationthe literal meaning of a word21
6598508684denouementfinal outcome of the story22
6598508685deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence23
6598508686didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach24
6598508689dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world25
6598508690end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line26
6598508691end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation27
6598508692English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg28
6598508693epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life29
6598508694euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds30
6598508695extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.31
6598508696falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution32
6598508697feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables33
6598508698figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.34
6598508699figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way35
6598508700footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables36
6598508701formexternal pattern or shape of a poem37
6598508702free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme38
6598508703hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
6598508704imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)40
6598508705indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says41
6598508706internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line42
6598508708verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant43
6598508709dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.44
6598508710irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended45
6598508711italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd46
6598508712masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable47
6598508713melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally48
6598508714metaphorA comparison without using like or as49
6598508715meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry50
6598508716metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it51
6598508717motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior52
6598508718narratorPerson telling the story53
6598508719octave8 line stanza54
6598508720onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.55
6598508721hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor56
6598508722oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.57
6598508723paradoxA contradiction or dilemma58
6598508724paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.59
6598508725personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes60
6598508726plotSequence of events in a story61
6598508727point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told62
6598508728omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.63
6598508729third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov64
6598508730first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself65
6598508732protagonistMain character66
6598508733quatrainA four line stanza67
6598508734rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.68
6598508735rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem69
6598508736rising actionEvents leading up to the climax70
6598508737sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt71
6598508738satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.72
6598508740sestet6 line stanza73
6598508741settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.74
6598508742simileA comparison using "like" or "as"75
6598508743soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage76
6598508744sonnet14 line poem77
6598508745stanzaA group of lines in a poem78
6598508746stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary79
6598508747syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.80
6598508748symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else81
6598508749synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa82
6598508750synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")83
6598508751tercet3 line stanza84
6598508753themeCentral idea of a work of literature85
6598508754toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character86
6598508755tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character87
6598508757understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis88
6598508759vilanellea nineteen-line poem with two rhymes throughout, consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of the other tercets and with both repeated at the close of the concluding quatrain.89

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